Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2025 i Her World Singapore

I’ve never thought of myself as a particularly fearful person. Insects, roller coasters, unusual foods? No sweat off my back. But after taking care of family members with illnesses ranging from gallstones to cancer over the years, coupled with negative experiences with doctors and medical treatments, I’ve come to loathe surgery, needles and hospitals. Unfortunately, I landed in the A&E twice this year, with the second visit resulting in an emergency operation, a hospital stay, and a few weeks of medical leave. It didn’t help that this all happened during one of the busiest times at work, as we were planning for our 65th anniversary celebrations, on top of putting the magazine to print. As life came to a grinding halt, I found myself in the ICU ward, one day…

It was an early-morning knock on the door 41 years ago, that would change Anastasia Tjendri-Liew’s life. The last thing the home baker expected was to find health inspectors standing on her doorstep. Then 31 years old and a mother of two young children, Anastasia was selling chiffon cakes from her home kitchen to local shopping malls and supermarkets in the Tanjong Katong area. However, this had caught the attention of authorities, who informed Anastasia that she needed a food manufacturing licence and a registered shop space if she wanted to continue her business. Although she didn’t realise it then, that fateful moment marked the beginning of a series of serendipitous opportunities. Anastasia had never planned on running a full-fledged shop, and even considered closing her home business. But inspired…

What if we told you that becoming an entrepreneur could be as simple as having a great product – and a Shopee account? At a recent Shopee panel discussion, Finding Your Niche Online, hosted by Her World, content creators and entrepreneurs Yeoh Mong Chin (@mongabong), Genecia Alluora Luo (@geneciaalluora), and Deborah Kwek (@debxrahkwek) came together to share their entrepreneurial learnings with a group of aspiring business owners and creatives. “Their stories really hit home. I have friends who want to start something, but the challenges feel overwhelming – they think they need to be the manufacturer, and handle everything from scratch. Shopee really streamlines that process,” says Hailey Tay, 29, who attended the event with a friend. HERE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EVENT: From everyday sharing to supporting businesses…

Today’s most discerning women are redefining luxury – not by chasing tradition, but by choosing conscious elegance. In a world where values are worn as boldly as accessories, eco-friendly lab-grown jewellery has become the modern woman’s statement of sophistication. In Singapore, lab-grown coloured diamonds and gemstones are reshaping the idea of modern elegance, dazzling not just with brilliance, but with meaning. They’re lighter on the planet, friendlier on the wallet, and – thanks to their vibrant hues and striking settings or designs – undeniably more expressive. In other words, jewellery has become armour. Whether it’s a sapphire the colour of midnight, a ruby with unapologetic fire, or an emerald as vivid as new beginnings, these lab-grown stones are designed for women who want to lead with presence. LAB-GROWN AND LIMITLESS…

No one taught me how to survive as a brown woman in the corporate world. There was no handbook. Just rules I absorbed. At first, I thought they were just strategies for success. But deep down, they were something heavier – shame. Because shame doesn’t always scream. It whispers: “You’re too much. Tone it down. Blend in or you don’t belong.” And so, I learnt to make myself smaller. I told myself it was about looking polished, but really? I was terrified of being noticed for the wrong reasons. I learnt to speak perfect English, stripping away the Tamil my parents once taught me. They insisted on “good English” as my armour, and I wore it well – polished, practiced, powerful. But behind that armour, I felt the sting. My…

Recent advancements in skin science suggest that beauty is becoming truly skin deep. The industry is going beyond quick fixes and reactive treatments, and embracing strategies that build skin’s strength and resilience from within. The goal? To delay the onset of visible ageing, rather than merely treating its symptoms. Dr Ashley Yuen of BMF Clinic highlights this transformation: “Aesthetic medicine used to be reactive, but now it’s shifting towards regenerative medicine – think collagen banking.” This refers to building up and preserving your skin’s natural collagen reserves while you’re still young, so you can “draw on” them later in life, much like saving for retirement. He explains that tools like multifractional lasers no longer just address surface issues, but instead “rejuvenate and heal” by working on deeper layers of the…

Commissioned to create a visual expression of this issue’s theme of fearlessness, Singapore artist Lauren Cheung draws on Lebanese-American writer Kahlil Gibran’s poem Fear: “It’s not about disappearing into the ocean / but of becoming the ocean.” Lauren’s piece reflects on this moment, where fear isn’t erased, but transcended. “The suspended terraces – representing life’s infinitely flowing paths – suggest both precariousness and endless possibility. Viewers are invited to see vulnerability not as weakness, but as a passage into wholeness,” she explains. Lauren Cheung is a self-taught hobbyist artist behind the Instagram accounts @dirtydoodies and @flat_bahru.…

In the meeting room at Pro Bono SG’s office in the State Courts, where I had arrived to interview her, Sadhana Rai greets me with a warm smile, gracious and remarkably open. But when the conversation turns to one of her most challenging cases, the death of two-year-old Umaisyah, something shifts. Her tone sharpens and her expression hardens, and the room comes to a still. The toddler died in March 2014 after repeated abuse by her drug-addict father. Instead of seeking help, her parents concealed her death and misled relatives until the truth surfaced in 2019. Sadhana entered the case years later as lead defence counsel for Umaisyah’s mother, who was then charged with perverting the course of justice and child abuse. At this point, Umaisyah’s father, who admitted to…

Once, career success was measured by hard skills – a degree from the right university, a list of technical certifications, or the ability to crunch numbers faster than anyone else in the room. Today, the ground has shifted. The skill that increasingly separates the good from the great – and often paves the way to leadership – isn’t found on a resume. It’s emotional intelligence, or EQ. For ambitious professionals in Singapore, navigating hybrid workplaces, cross-border teams, and rising expectations, EQ is more than just a “nice to have”. It’s a career advantage that can unlock promotions, strengthen influence, and build resilience in ways that raw expertise alone cannot. Globally, leaders like Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand; Indra Nooyi, former CEO of Pepsico; and Mary Barra, CEO…

Hybrid fatigue, AI disruption and economic uncertainty are changing the rules – surviving isn’t enough. Professionals who learn to think and perform like leaders – acting decisively to find solutions, learning from setbacks and taking accountability – will be better poised to deal with the increasing demands and challenges of today’s workplace, no matter your role or position. According to a 2025 McKinsey report, companies that consistently outperform in growth and profitability share five critical leadership mindsets: boldness, long-term thinking, customer obsession, rigorous execution, and talent development. But while these traits sound lofty, they’re made real by those who embody them every day, whether they’re building a fintech platform, restructuring global teams, or navigating burnout. We speak to four women in Singapore who are redefining what it means to lead:…

An e-mail from a senior boss about a mistake can easily trigger panic – especially when delivered without tone, context or nuance. Renee*, a community care manager, admits that such digital feedback can sting. Yet instead of reacting immediately, she chose to pause, reflect, and acknowledge the oversight in her reply. “I focus on feedback that resonates with me and is worth working on for self-improvement. I tend to recall what actually happened, and consider whether it’s truly an area I could have done better,” says the 30something, who admits the incident lingered with her for some time. Michelle*, 29, shares a similar struggle. The service planner feels that criticism often reflects a poor impression of her, rather than just the work itself. Although she consciously decides when to act…

LEAVING THE DESK BEHIND FOR THE FAST LANE GLADYS LAM, 30, race car driver (@gladyslamx), Team Supersonic Singapore Having loved cars since she was a teenager, Gladys Lam never imagined she would one day be racing professionally. She and her friends had spent hours on driving simulators, go-karting, and taking their first turns on the track, before her first spontaneous race in 2019 at the Malaysia Street Festival Series, a competitive community race that is now a national-level racing series. She clinched the top spot in the women’s category, and the thrill left her hungry for more. From there, she raced in competitions across South-east Asia before gradually moving on to international events. “At first it was just fun, but the more time I spent driving, the more I knew…

We call it “beauty sleep” for a reason – at night, your skin repairs damage from UV, pollution and makeup wear. “Our body has a natural repair machinery in which enzymes can be activated to fix these errors. It is this natural repair machinery that seems to be amped up at night,” says Dr Evelyn Tay, consultant dermatologist and founder of Lumine Dermatology & Laser Clinic. She notes that higher transepidermal water loss at night means skin needs extra hydration. “Certain skincare ingredients can only be applied at night – such as retinol and retinoids – as these ingredients may contribute to photosensitivity when applied in the day. Creams containing peptides can also be applied at night as increased skin permeability could lead to increased absorption, enhancing their efficacy.” Exfoliation…

“We aim to be a steady presence, something our customers can trust – not just for beautiful clothes, but for consistency, intention, and a deeper kind of connection.”– JACLYN TEO, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF IN GOOD COMPANY IN GOOD COMPANY A Decade of Quiet Disruption Established: 2014 Founders: (Clockwise from top) Sven Tan, 46, creative director; Kane Tan, 43, chief of design; Jaclyn Teo, 47, managing director; and Julene Aw, 48, director of operations To mark its 10th anniversary, Singapore-based fashion label In Good Company staged its very first runway show, set within the architectural grandeur of the National Gallery. It wasn’t a spectacle of excess, but a quiet triumph – a graceful display of thoughtfully crafted clothing, and a powerful reminder that fashion’s truest impact doesn’t come from volume, but…

The practice of negotiation used to conjure up images of hard-nosed executives hammering out multimillion-dollar deals in corporate boardrooms. Today, it’s far more universal. Whether you’re gunning for a raise, aiming for a promotion, or trying to secure perks that will make your work life more sustainable, negotiation has become a survival skill. In Singapore’s competitive job market, where career-driven professionals are constantly balancing ambition and well-being, knowing how to advocate for yourself can mean the difference between stagnation and growth. Yet many people shy away from negotiation. They know they should do it, but few feel truly confident. The good news? Negotiation doesn’t have to feel confrontational or intimidating. With the right mindset and preparation, it can become a collaborative conversation that builds trust and creates win-win outcomes. THE…

“Sometimes, growth looks like pausing, sidestepping, or even contorting yourself into oddly shaped spaces that don’t resemble traditional success.” In theory, the longer you’re in the workforce, the easier it should be to ask for a raise, own your space, and lead with confidence. In reality, age often works against women, muting ambition at every stage. According to Her World’s What Women Want Survey 2025, younger women are routinely dismissed as inexperienced, while older women are often seen as outdated. Around 77 per cent of respondents say age-based discrimination still exists in Singapore workplaces. Almost half have never asked for a raise or promotion due to fear, uncertainty, or internalised norms. And for those navigating mid-career burnout, family obligations or financial stress, career growth can feel completely unattainable. This is…